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Review: “Hit the Top” (The Best Hit)

“Hit the Top,” also known as The Best Hit, is a refreshing blend of comedy, romance, and time-travel fantasy that brings a nostalgic twist to the modern K-drama landscape. Released in 2017, this series stars Yoon Shi-yoon, Lee Se-young, Kim Min-jae, and Cha Tae-hyun, and it quickly became a fan favorite for its quirky premise and heartfelt storytelling.

The drama begins with Yoo Hyun-jae, a wildly popular idol from the 1990s, who mysteriously disappears at the height of his fame. Through a bizarre twist of fate, he time-travels to 2017 and finds himself in a world that has changed dramatically—both culturally and personally. As he tries to navigate this unfamiliar future, Hyun-jae discovers that he has a son, Lee Ji-hoon, who is now a young adult aspiring to become a musician. The revelation sets off a chain of emotional and comedic events that explore themes of identity, regret, and redemption.

One of the drama’s strongest elements is its character development. Hyun-jae is not just a caricature of a washed-up celebrity; he’s layered, flawed, and surprisingly endearing. His journey from self-centered idol to a caring father and mentor is both humorous and touching. Lee Ji-hoon, played by Kim Min-jae, brings a grounded sincerity to the role of a young man torn between societal expectations and personal dreams. Lee Se-young’s Woo-seung adds charm and emotional depth, creating a love triangle that’s sweet without being overly dramatic.

The writing balances slapstick humor with poignant moments. Scenes where Hyun-jae struggles to understand smartphones, social media, and modern slang are laugh-out-loud funny, but they’re also cleverly used to highlight generational gaps and evolving values. The drama doesn’t shy away from emotional beats either—especially when Hyun-jae confronts the consequences of his past decisions and the pain he unknowingly caused.

Visually, “Hit the Top” is vibrant and energetic. The direction makes excellent use of Seoul’s urban landscape, contrasting the glitz of the entertainment industry with the quiet struggles of everyday life. The soundtrack is another standout, blending retro K-pop hits with contemporary tracks that underscore the emotional arcs of the characters.

What makes “Hit the Top” truly memorable is its ability to mix genres without losing coherence. It’s a comedy that makes you think, a fantasy that feels grounded, and a romance that doesn’t rely on clichés. It’s also a story about second chances—about rewriting your legacy and reconnecting with people you thought were lost to time.

Whether you’re a longtime K-drama fan or new to the genre, “Hit the Top” offers a unique viewing experience that’s both entertaining and emotionally resonant. It’s a drama that hits all the right notes, leaving you with laughter, tears, and a renewed appreciation for the unpredictable rhythm of life.

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Short & funny fantasy series with a very cute romance

PLOT: The FL (tiny :) wedding dress designer, buys an old house in a small suburban town. She then discovers that it is inhabited by a strange man (ghost? alien? Ancient!) with super power. He's been waiting for someone for 2,000 years and his life depends on a "spiritual" cherry tree. The FL can also recharge him by touch.

+++ I really like the acting of the two leads, even if the huge height difference (35 cm - 40 cm?) bothers me a little. Wang Zi Hao is magnificent and I'm eagerly awaiting his future dramas.
+++ Coherent story, with ML partially amnesiac and searching for his past. No love triangle, no real villains...
Lots of humor too :)
+++ Excellent direction: pacing, lighting, framing, etc.

### Limited budget (few sets, few extras, etc.) but well used.

=> A very feel-good short series where the fantastic Wang ZiHao shines brightly.
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Série fantastique courte & drôle avec une très cute romance

PLOT: La FL (minuscule :) wedding dress designer, achète une maison ancienne ds 1 petite ville périphérique. Elle découvre alors que celle-ci est habité par 1 homme étrange (ghost ? allien ? Ancient !) avec super PW. Il attend qq1 depuis 2000 ans et sa vie dépend d'1 cerisier "spirituel". La FL peut aussi le recharger au toucher.

+++ J'aime bcp le jeu des 2 leads, même si l'énorme différence de taille (35 cm - 40 cm ?) me gêne un peu. Wang Zi Hao est magnifique et j'attends ses futurs dramas avec impatience.
+++ Story +/- cohérente, avec ML en partie amnésique et recherche de son passé. Pas de love triangle, de réels Villains ... beaucoup d'humour aussi :)
+++ Excellente réalis° : rythme, lumières, cadrages, etc.

### Budget limité (peu de décors, peu de figurants, ...) mais bien utilisé.

=> Série courte très feel-good où le fantastique Wang ZiHao brille de tous feux

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Crappy children that suck the life out of poor old dad! (That should have been the title)

Being the black sheep in the family, I often thought I was the bad daughter.

The one who has different perspective from theirs, the one who constantly had questions that they didn't want to answer or thought were out of line, but if Cha Gangjae and Cha Kangshim were based on someone real, I abdicate the title of a bad daughter.

These two are so damn entitled. Cha Gangjae with his obsession for money and Cha Kangshim who only treats her director well but treats everyone else like shit. When I first started the drama, I thought Cha Dal Bong was the worst of the lot, but he is a saint compared to the other two demons.

How i wish Kang Seo Wool was Cha Soon Bong's daughter, because he deserved one like her. These jerks made me so mad for long, and they were so blind to their own faults and insisted that their father was making a mountain out of a molehill.

Yoon Park knows how to pick characters, this is his worst I have seen so far. The portrayal was good but the character was trash. He does everything wrong but ends up with all the good things. Yeah, that's the lesson that everyone should be learning. (Take the easy way out people!) 🙄

Atleast it kept me occupied on my day out, I downloaded the playlist on Youtube and skipped the most annoying parts. I have only rated it 5 generous stars for their father and my fav Nam Ji Hyun.

Let's not even talk about the story, it could have been good but the wanted to make a mess of it. Apart from the Dal Bong, Seo Wool, and Eun Ho's love triangle the other romances weren't that interesting, more so because of their crappy Cha partners. I mean Moon Tae Joo was kinda good, but someone like Kwon Hyo Jin can be very annoying. Atleast the final arc was better.

The most beautiful part was the ending. Very few dramas get it right.

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Too long!

Like I said in my review of Part 1, I liked that this show centered on a male mer-person and "human" female. And a lot of the characters were really enjoyable. It was different and unique seeing The King of Heaven (?) being a child.
The second lead love story between the "moth" and the "spiritual leader" was more interesting than the merman and "human". At least it was as realistic as it could be in a fantasy drama.
And, as the daughter and granddaughter of seamstresses, 10 stars to the costume designs and jewelry.

BUT THE STORY! OMG, JUST END!
How many times could the same characters have the same conversation in the same CGI room? Dozens!
How many times can characters be abducted and rescued or escape from some kind of prison or villain? Multiple times!
How many times can a betrayal plot be revealed and executed? I stopped counting.

This drama should not have had a Part 2. It should have had a 25 episode run and ended.
I gave it a 6 because the actors and production crew deserve a lot of credit for what they were given to work with.

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Could have been better.

It was great watching a mermaid story where the mer-person was a man and the "human" was a woman. The costumes and jewelry were beautiful and the soundtrack went straight into my MP3 and is still there.

The PLOT, however, was all over the place with way too many characters, side quests, individual motivations, and plot lines that dragged the story out WAY too long. If the show runners had condensed the storyline, I wouldn't have gotten bored with the series in the first half of Part 1 when Chang Yi sacrificed his "other life". Why take the mer-person out of a mermaid story?
I gave it a 6 because the actors and production crew deserve a lot of credit for what they were given to work with.

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Worth The Wait

I honestly didn’t expect to like this short C-drama. But to be real, what hooked me here is the comedy—it made the whole thing way more enjoyable than most short dramas I’ve tried. Usually, short dramas stress me out with too much love-revenge drama, and if I stop watching for a while, I don’t miss them and just drop them easily.

But this one? I actually found myself patiently waiting for new episodes just because it made me laugh so much. They’re so unserious at this point, and that’s what makes it fun.

I do hope they make a season 2, because that ending wasn’t what I expected at all. The only thing I didn’t really like was the acting—it could’ve been better—but honestly, it’s still rewatchable and very much recommendable. So yeah, I’m telling y’all to give it a try!

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"FRIEND"SHIP!

Yeah this is the single gayest show I´ve ever watched, including actual gay shows. Which I don´t say lightly because I always praise when movies and shows focus on friendships more than romance, highlighting that a platonic friendship can be just as important and emotional as a romantic relationship. High School Frenemy does that aswell, but whatever those two got going on must be a secret third thing. All jokes aside, I really ended up enjoying this drama. I loved the focus on the female friendships as well as the main story. The acting from the cast was stellar, the pacing is good and its technically a well executed drama. I also just liked how this show looked and the camerawork.

I didnt really love the gang plotline, but I understand that it was a tool to move the plot forward. The plot being the power of friendship of course. Something that did kinda bothered me throughout the show was the lack of extras in the shots. Like I´m sure they could afford to pay some university students to be on the set for a few hours. It might not seem like a big deal but it´s noticeable and makes the world feel empty. Also some conflicts where resolved a bit to fast in my opinion.

I also could see this show being something that I rewatch in the future, as it doesnt rely too heavy on plotwist or anything like that. I know some people didnt tune in to this purely because it not an "bl" but I would still recommend to give it a shot!

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What An Insanely Plot

This drama is basically going to be underrated, and that’s a crime because let’s talk about the plot—it’s confusing in the best way possible. Not the kind of confusing that makes you drop it, but the kind that blows your mind. At first flashback, I honestly didn’t know who to support because it felt like everyone had a motive. The only one I trusted the whole time was the police (seriously though, I NEED to know who wrote that letter about Hao Mei Li and Qu Tong).

Then things got wild—when they revealed SMX has an identical twin, my jaw actually dropped. I’m not exaggerating or being cringe, that twist really did shock me.

And let’s not skip the acting—it was top tier. Plus, every time I see a drama with that low-saturation coloring, I just know it’s going to be good. Pair that with this cast and the way they handled the CGI, and it’s an easy win for me.

So yeah, highly recommend this one. Don’t sleep on it!

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A Masterpiece of Cinematography and Storytelling.

The series is just drop dead gorgeous. Breathtaking cinematography, Breathtaking CGI , Breathtaking Performance. The acting was so good it never felt for once the cast was acting. It felt like the cast were the character themselves. A very well balance of comedy, seriousness, emotions and a little drizzle of romance. The cast was so well selected and the characters were very well written. The fight scenes were so WOW, like they were so well choreographed. My mouth just wouldn't close while watching the fights and I would be left with goosebumps.

The role Xu Qi An was made for Wang Hedi. I cannot imagine anyone else playing that character. The laughs, emotions, depth, you name it everything was on point but it never felt scripted. Everything was so natural. The story revolved around Xu Qi An yet it never felt overwhelming. Xu Qi An was clearly favored everywhere unrealistically but it never felt partial or wrong. Like it was nonchalant and cool like it was meant to be set there.

The people from the Bureau were just so fantastic. My personal favorite was Caiwei (she kind of became my spirit animal). She is so carefree yet excellent at her job. The use of modern elements was so clever it never felt too much or too little. It was just the right amount. The Supervisor is such a clever character, It felt like he did nothing yet secretly everything was going according to his arrangements and much of it was revolving around him.

The people from Yamen were so cool. Especially the Gold Gongs, SPECIFICALLY GOLG GONG YANG YAN. It's just a personal bias but he's so cool. The brothership was so great between the copper gongs. And most importantly all of the Gaurdians sticked to their roles barely partaking in any corruption. They always stood together firmly against the wrong without any hesitation and helped each other out. And I loved how Yang Yan always stood up for Xu Qi An without any doubt. Lord Wei was kind of a father figure for Xu Qi An. Even thought I was doubtful about Lord Wei character from the first but later their interactions were adorable. Lord Wei guided Xu Qi An like a real mentor would do and always cleaned up after his mess it was adorable.

This series didn't have much romance to begin with but whatever was there it was cute. Princess Lin An character acted a little immature and dumb at the beginning but it gradually improved. His Majesty was just a straight up bipolar man who took run the world like a chess board too seriously. His character was so wierd and suffocating to watch.

Overall I was mostly stunned by the cinematography of the series. It was shot like a movie, Each and every frame was so gorgeous and the CGI felt so natural. I would consider this as Hedi's best work till date. His role had so much depth. I would definitely rewatch this whenever I can. I classify this as one of those dramas I would want to watch for the first time again, Highly anticipating the next season.

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The scars of a dark past that lead to a brighter future forged in compassion and courage

At first, I was unsure whether to start this drama. The way it was advertised, especially by viewers, made it seem like yet another dramatic high school romance packed with trauma for shock value. But once I began watching, I was genuinely surprised to find something entirely different from what I had expected.

One of the most refreshing aspects was how the romance between the main leads was handled. It never overly dominated the story. Instead, it supported their individual growth in a way that felt genuine. Had the drama leaned more heavily into their romantic arc, the audience would’ve likely focused only on that (unfortunately a lot of viewers still did that).

What stood out was the characters growth: they inevitably change, sometimes slowly, painfully but realistically.They were constantly evolving, reshaped by their experiences. That’s rare in dramas, where characters often remain emotionally unchanged, despite the passage of time and major events.

This story explored how people grow, falter, and eventually move forward. It showed how pain transforms us, how choices divide people’s paths, and how growth, though never easy, is ultimately inevitable.

The story doesn’t excuse anyone but it explores how empathy and accountability can coexist, even in deeply flawed relationships. Grief and loss aren’t resolved through vengeance or resentment but through processing pain and using it to shape a brighter future.

If I have one structural critique, it would be the excessive use of montage sequences in the final episodes. While intended to quickly show transformation and emotional closure, they ended up feeling overused which diluted the emotional impact.

This wasn’t a perfect show, but it was an honest one. It didn’t shy away from discomfort or moral complexity. It was a story of transformation, of rebirth.

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My most fav comfort drama recently

I'm Telling You, 'My Youth' Is The Best Drama, Period.

I just finished watching only 2 episodes of "My Youth," and honestly, I'm still processing how good it was. Seriously, if you're looking for a K-drama that will completely blow you away, stop what you're doing and watch this. I know people talk a lot about the typical romance and drama, but this show is on a whole other level.

First off, let's talk about the visual effects. No joke, the VFX in this show are insane. You might not expect it from a drama that's mainly about friends and growing up, but the way they use visual effects to show the characters' emotions and dreams is just... masterful. There's a scene where the main character is working on their webtoon, and the drawings literally come to life in the air around them. It's not just cool to look at; it makes you feel their passion in a way that regular scenes can't. The cinematography is also top-tier, making every single shot feel like a work of art.

But it's not just about the visuals. The story is so heartfelt and real. The cast has amazing chemistry, and the friendships feel completely genuine. I was laughing with them, crying with them, and rooting for them every step of the way. "My Youth" is the kind of show that reminds you what it's like to have big dreams and to feel like anything is possible. It's a drama that sticks with you long after the final credits roll.

If you love incredible acting, a powerful story, and some of the most stunning visual effects I've ever seen in a drama, then you have to watch "My Youth." It's a masterpiece.

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A perfect emotional rollercoaster with gorgeous Ryan Cheng

To find no annoying useless filer character in a 38 episode drama is rare and Shadow Love is one of them. The drama is such a fun time with story, good actors, decent pacing and storyline and intelligent characters.
But with so many shows maybe with better story lines out there what makes this one stand out....Ryan Cheng.
Unpopular but he was so much better in this than in Legend of Female General because the variety of emotions he displayed here was unreal. He was absolutely BEAUTIFUL, made my heartache with the way his eyes displayed all the emotions.
Even if for nothing else, watch it for Ryan Cheng.

Besides that the yearning, the protectiveness, the love, the angst, the chemistry.....takes your breath away. The only thing I would say could have been better was we could make him the prince a little earlier than it happened in the series.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED with GREAT CHEMISTRY!!!

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